© 2024 University of Missouri - KBIA
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

Seg. 1: Medical Debt Collection | Seg. 2: Health Insurance Finance

Segment 1: Even though debtors prisons were outlawed in 1983, the threat of jail is being used to pursue unpaid medical bills.

Debt collectors in many jurisdictions have the ability to determine who is jailed for medical debt. The ProPublica reporter who pursued the story to Coffeyville, Kansas told of the local collection attorney who routinely calls debtors to court, of the presiding magistrate judge who's never taken a law class and of the families struggling to pay health care providers to stay out of jail.

  • Lizzie Presser, reports on health and healthcare policy for ProPublica


Segment 2, beginning at 22:13: Financial considerations to think about before enrolling for health insurance.

Medical savings accounts, networks, premiums and deductibles are all important factors to consider when selecting a plan for your medical coverage. Our Smart Money Experts evaluated financial benefits and drawbacks of various options available during the open enrollment period for health insurance.

Copyright 2021 KCUR 89.3. To see more, visit KCUR 89.3.

Steve Kraske is an associate teaching professor of journalism at UMKC, a political columnist for The Kansas City Star and has hosted "Up to Date" since 2002. He worked as the full-time political correspondent for The Star from 1994-2013 covering national, state and local campaigns. He also has covered the statehouses in Topeka and Jefferson City.
Elizabeth Ruiz
Jamie Hobbs hails from Southeastern Missouri, and is a senior at the Missouri School of Journalism. She is also studying Spanish. She specializes in reporting stories on the environment and human rights.